Obama's Inaugural Speech: 'Our Time' for Changing Nation

This inauguration night -- American ritual a grand party president Barack Obama took the oath of office for the second time. On a day of celebration emotion and purpose the massive crowd out there in... See More

This inauguration night -- American ritual a grand party president Barack Obama took the oath of office for the second time. On a day of celebration emotion and purpose the massive crowd out there in the National Mall there to witness it all. As a vast -- divided nation paused to take note. And listen. He was having a blue. Or. Pennsylvania Avenue. In the reviewing stand with his family. Had lunch with congressional leaders. And up on the capitol's west front. Barack Obama clearly relished and savored every moment his second inauguration. Barack Hussein Obama solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute that I will faithfully execute the office of president of the United States. A sea of people stretching down the mall not as many as four years ago but still more than half a million strong. Witnessed the grand ritual that every four years confirms American democracy. In -- uniquely American way. Then a celebration and Barack Obama was not just their do enjoy the day. He is -- president renewed in office by the votes of 65 million Americans. He's -- president. Purpose my fellow Americans we are made for this moment and we also is -- so long as we see that. This moment it's more than the pomp and ceremony. For while inaugurations may be full of traditions. Whether in the swearing in itself presidents choose their -- Obama taking -- -- this time on two of them one Abraham Lincoln's the other Martin Luther King junior's on the national holiday honoring the civil rights mark. More than 21 gun salute. For all the trumpet. -- -- -- -- also tell us something deeper about ourselves and the president we have chosen to leave him. We have always understood that when times change. So must we. Change this time around that -- -- something else to Barack Obama he used his second inauguration to make an audacious claim. That the coalition that we elected him younger more diverse more non native more socially liberal is -- next America. The rising generation and he spoke directly to and for them it was a new American progressive as a unleashed. All week. The people. Understand that our country cannot succeed -- a shrinking view. Do very well and a growing many barely make it. We will respond of the threat of climate change. Knowing that the failure to do so would betray our children and future generations. Our journey is not complete until no citizen is forced to wait for hours to exercise the right to vote. And you could see in the vast crowd his crowd this was their moment in a different -- than four years ago. A moment one after fierce ideological combat and hard political work. Before the speech we spend some time among them so these -- some of the best seats for the inauguration and who gets. All of these reserved for spouses of members of the House of Representatives and they are great seats. Just a few yards from where the president takes the oath of office. It is his inaugural address and others who get this close big donors for sure the well connected. Old friends. Well. Mostly he's still the same guy things happen his heart as big as the world. John -- -- was Barack Obama's long partner in -- not bring personal -- from doing civil rights work in Chicago from 1993. To 2003. Around a -- -- law -- -- -- never raised his voice no drama Obama here but today was no drama Obama. Back in 19939495. And dotting the crowd there were these young celebrities drawn to Obama. Katy Perry and John -- Jay-Z John Legend and actor Jeffrey Wright who spoke of the whole. In the day. The -- country. It's like you know it's about the example that we set two world in terms of three -- working democracy. And and it's about. It's about partnership and it's about. What you -- the common ground. Between all of us as Americans and so you know this isn't this -- -- illustrate that you know we've we've we've got to the hospital. A lot of hard work here. And the musical artists today they mostly represented big young 21 century artists like Kelly Clarkson. And an Obama favorite and friend beyoncé. -- The people. Declared today met the most evident the troops but. All of us are created eight. -- the star of the Guidant still. Just the guided our forebears to -- -- all -- Almonte and stonewalled. He was we even the new tapestry of America as he sees it for the first time in an inaugural address explicitly mentioning gay rights. Calling for marriage equality. Our journey is not complete until our dead Brothers and sisters are treated like anyone else under the law. We are truly credited -- then surely the love we commit to one another must be equal as well. And with an eye on the immigration reform he's promised in the 60% of the Hispanic vote he won. Until bright young students and engineers are lifted and our workforce rather than expelled from. From our country. -- the president presidency and he has an agenda that he wants to pursue in his second term. Some Republicans may not agree -- that agenda but I thought his speech was broadly. American was patriotic it was up Lipton. As he left the podium for the congressional lunch and the parade and -- celebrations. Barack Obama wanted to -- to linger and to look. -- -- -- road ahead is hard for him. And four are divided country but today at least. It was from.